As I am preparing for a new semester, I have been thinking deeply about my grading system. I have read all the research around grit and success. I have even taken the Grit Test and read my results. If you haven't heard of Angela Duckworth and her theory about Grit, I have linked her Ted Talk below this post.
My concern is that while I teach my students about this concept and I have exercises in my courses to help students understand and apply Grit, I don't think that my assignments and grading practices support students' ability to apply Grit.
For example, if a student completes an assignment on time and turns it in for a grade, we are done and on to the next assignment. If students approach me and request to redo an assignment, I will often say no and to focus on the next assignment. In courses where I scaffold large assignments, I don't often do the same for smaller assignments. Students are told to look forward. I provide extra credit opportunities. I provide extra points for going to the tutoring center to get help with writing. But, I don't think I encourage students to persist with a project and refine and make it better.
Students are not given a chance to fail, redo and then succeed. My grades follow the traditional A-F scale of necessity, but what if I sought to change it?
I attended a conference where the grading paradigm suggested was - 0-2 points. 0- failed to meet standards, 1- met standards, 2- exceeded standards. I am rethinking everything! What if I provided students the assignments and allowed them to turn in one week early with an opportunity to revise for an improved grade? I would have to have less assignments, and I would have to juggle my grading time.
Not sure about how this will work, or if this will work, but am willing to try.
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